Alastair Cook, Former England's Record Run-Scorer Receives Knighthood

Alastair Cook, former England captain, who retired from international cricket earlier this year, received a Knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in the New Year honours list.

Cook is the highest run scorer for England with 12,472 runs in the longest format of the game with 33 centuries in 161 matches and is the first cricketer to be knighted since the legendary all-rounder Ian Botham in 2007.

Colin Graves, the Chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board praised Cook for being the 11th Englishman to be knighted for his services to cricket. Graves said, “It is a fitting tribute to a man who has led with distinction on and off pitch ever since he made his England debut.”

Along with Alastair Cook, former rugby captain Bill Beaumont also received Knighthood. The 66-year-old led England to a Five Nations Grand Slam in 1980 and also captained the British and Irish Lions. He is a former Rugby Football Union chairman and was elected chairman of World Rugby in 2016.